According to the signed intergovernmental agreement, residents of a number of countries can cross the borders of Israel without a visa. The key condition for this is the purpose of the trip. Who can freely visit the Republic, and who will have to apply for a certain type of visa, and how to do it competently?
Visa-free entry procedure to Israel
For 2021, Armenia, Russia, Belarus and Ukraine signed special intergovernmental agreements with the Republic of Israel on the possibility of citizens in some cases to cross borders without the need to obtain a visa permit.
Allowed targets include:
- Cultural and tourist visits;
- Pilgrimages;
- Visiting loved ones;
- Other short trips.
People like Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan or Uzbekistan need to apply for a visa for any visit.
Upon arrival in the country, you must present:
- A valid international passport;
- Return ticket;
- International medical insurance policy;
- Certificate of financial solvency: money or a printout of funds on cards;
- Any document explaining the reason for entry.
After the inspection, the border guard will issue a special coupon indicating the traveler's details and the date of departure. It must be kept until the moment of departure.
How long can you enter under a visa-free regime?
According to the agreements, Russians and other citizens can enter the partner state using identification documentation and stay there, without leaving, for up to 90 days.
Items that attract increased attention from the border guard
The agreement regime, for all its facilitation, does not exempt citizens from customs inspection.
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When passing border control, the traveler should remember that customs officers may require you to inspect:
- Carry-on baggage;
- Computer equipment;
- Cellular and tablet devices;
- Bottle-shaped and glass containers;
- Things and money (for 1 person it is allowed to import things for a total amount of up to $ 400, and the amount of import currency without duties is equivalent to one hundred thousand shekels);
- Pets - you can import up to 2 vaccinated pets per person.
When can they be banned from entering the country under a visa-free regime?
If, when scanning a passport and answering simple questions about the purpose of the visit, the timing and place of stay within the framework of the visa-free regime, any inconsistencies with the submitted supporting documents begin, the visitor can either be asked to undergo an additional interview, or simply be deported on the basis of "unreliability."
Types of visas to Israel
Depending on the purpose of the trip, according to the classification of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country, there are several types of permits to stay in the state. They are conventionally divided into two - A and B.
Category “A” visas
- A1 - permission of a temporary resident. This type is intended for those who have received the right to repatriation, i.e. to return to the Jewish state in connection with the positive results of verification of Israeli roots;
- A2 - permission for students in an Israeli educational institution. Long-term - up to a year, a multiple type of entry permit for applicants, as well as adults and minors who will receive secondary education in Israeli schools. The consulate also issues a visa of this type for short-term (no more than 90 days) visits within the framework of cultural and youth programs of the Jewish Agency (TAGLIT, MASA);
- A3 - permission to enter for clergy and spiritual missions. The basis is an invitation from representatives of recognized churches and institutions of the spiritual and religious sphere. The request must be approved by the Israeli Ministry of Internal Affairs;
- A4 - only for spouses and children of type A2 and A3 applicants. The basis is a certificate of relationship with the applicant. The consular mission may request additional documents.
On third-party sites, you can find a mention of the a5 visa, but this category does not appear on the official resources of the embassies and the Israeli Foreign Ministry.
Category “B” visas
- B1 - a time-limited work visa. Issued to those who already have an agreement with an employer registered in one of the settlements of the Jewish state and a labor permit from the Israeli Ministry of Internal Affairs. The employer will have to apply for it. Artists, art workers and theater workers also receive B1 visas;
- B2 - an ordinary or "guest" permit without the right to work. Required for transit and short trips in order to relax and visit the sights of the country, visit relatives or friends, make a business visit or negotiations.
This type of visa has been abolished by special agreements between countries for Armenians, Belarusians, Russians and Ukrainians.
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Where can you get a visa to Israel
The Israeli state belongs to countries that do not use the services of visa service centers, therefore, to transfer a package for a visa, you will have to go to the consular mission of the country.
Addresses and contacts can be found on the official websites of diplomatic missions:
Since Kazakhstanis are required to receive both type b1 and type b2, the embassy of the Jewish state has entered into licensing agreements with a number of tour operators. Their list in the Kazakh Republic: embassies.gov.il
Visa centers, embassies and consulates of Israel
Embassy of the State of Israel in Moscow |
| The address:Moscow, Bolshaya Ordynka, 56, 119017 |
| Phones: (+7 495) 660-27-00, (+7 495) 660-27-68 |
| Site: http://embassies.gov.il/moscow |
Consulate General of the State of Israel in St. Petersburg |
| The address:St. Petersburg, P.O. Box 28, 191180 |
| Phones:(+7 812) 406-05-00, (+7 812) 406-05-55 |
| Site:http://embassies.gov.il/spb |
Central Information Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Israel |
| The address: Jerusalem, Mesilat Yasharim, 6, 94584 |
| Phones:* 3450 or 1222 3450 in Israel, (+972 2) 629-46-66 for calls from abroad |
| Site:http://www.piba.gov.il/russian/Pages/national_info_center_rus.aspx |
| [email protected] |
How to get a visa to Israel for Russians, Belarusians, Ukrainians, residents of other CIS countries
The process of issuing a visa sticker is regulated by the Israeli Foreign Ministry. There are no fundamental differences from country to country.
Stages, methods of obtaining and the nuances of the procedure, depending on the type of visa
The procedure for obtaining a document includes the following basic steps:
- Filling out an application (questionnaire type) for registration of one or another type of entry permit. Download document:
- Preparation of an appropriate package of accompanying documentation;
- Using the contact details provided on the website, make an appointment with the consular office to submit information. The registration is successful if within a week the applicant received a letter in response to agree on the date and time of the visit. To enter the embassy mission in Moscow, you can use an electronic record. Before visiting the mission, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with the safety rules, since you cannot take a number of things with you: for example, the diplomatic mission in Kazakhstan allows entry into the building for an appointment only with documents in a separate file;
- Arrive at the consulate in person at the appointed date and time, submit the application and documents according to the list and pay the consular fee. It is recommended to arrive a little in advance (10-15 minutes). If the applicant arrives late, he will no longer have a guarantee of receiving consular services on that day;
- After a certain period of time, clarify the readiness of the passport and agree on the visit. Drive up to pick up the document. The embassy found that only the applicant himself, relatives (upon confirmation of the fact of kinship) or proxies (if there is a notarized power of attorney) has the right to receive information about the readiness.
Main document list
The standard basic package, regardless of the type of entry visa, includes:
- Application form (download a sample);
- Foreigner, valid for the entire duration of the trip and at least six months after its end + photocopy of spare pages;
- Passport of the country of citizenship + copies of app. pages;
- 2 photographs: color, new, glossy, 5 by 5 cm;
- The fact of the availability of air tickets and place of residence;
- Travel medical insurance;
- Financial guarantees - certificates from banking institutions on the applicant's accounts.
For certain categories of visas, depending on the purpose of the trip, the package can be expanded with additional information, for example:
- Certificate from the place of work;
- Confirmation from the place of enrollment for study;
- Letter of invitation (from relatives living in Israel, from the host in the framework of the programs);
- Certificate of no criminal record, etc.
If the applicant is traveling with a minor, he / she will need to attach a birth certificate (or passport if available), a notarized power of attorney and a confirmation letter given by one or both parents.
Terms of issuing a visa to Israel. Is it possible to shorten the time for consideration of the application
The processing time for visa documentation may vary from country to country, but generally ranges from 7 to 14 working days. The duration of consideration can be influenced by national holidays in Israel and the country of origin, as well as the type of visa permission requested - the period can be extended from 1 to 2 weeks.
When the deadline has expired, and the decision has not been received, according to the diplomatic mission procedure, the applicant himself or his proxy / relatives have the right to submit a written request or clarify information about readiness by calling the consular department.
Ways to get a ready-made visa
The applicant can obtain a passport himself by making an appointment at the consulate's opening hours, through a relative (it is important to confirm the relationship) or issue an official power of attorney with which the representative will come to the consulate. He must have an identification document with him.
If the request was submitted for a tourist visa through a licensed travel agency, then the passport can be collected from the agent.
The cost of obtaining a visa to Israel. Consular fee amount
Services related to the issuance of visas depend on its category. The prices can be viewed here.
Prices in the CIS countries may differ, as payment is made in local currency. The exact cost should be found out on the electronic resource of the diplomatic mission in the state of filing.
In case of a negative decision, the paid fee will not be returned to the applicant.
There is no need to pay a service fee to those categories of applicants to whom the Israeli Ministry of Internal Affairs issues a permit for obtaining a visa: respectively, these are categories A2 and A3.
Grounds for refusing to issue a visa to Israel
Despite the strict conditions of registration, the attitude towards the citizens of the named countries of the post-Soviet space on the part of the staff of consular offices is generally loyal. However, negative decisions on certain categories of visas occur quite often.
The reasons are both violations of the requirements for documentation (for example, the translation was not submitted, or the copy was not certified by a notary), and the concealment or submission of false (knowingly or unintentionally) information, in particular, when applying for a work visa.
Is it possible and how to appeal the refusal
In case of refusal, the submitter of the request has the right to find out why he / she was refused. If the violation is “formal”, the consular post allows the possibility to supplement the package or make a correction in the event of a typo or inaccuracy of information. If the applicant intends to challenge the refusal decision, he has the right to trial.
How to reduce the likelihood of getting a negative decision
The first and most important thing to pay attention to is the correspondence of the purpose of the trip to the information provided for the visa. When the assembled package is compiled without errors and in accordance with the rules indicated on the consulate's website, the probability of refusal will be significantly lower.
You should never be afraid of a call to the consular office for additional clarifications - on the contrary, this mechanism should be considered as an opportunity to give employees more weighty arguments for issuing an entry sticker.
Extension of a visa to Israel
Most of the multiple-entry visa permits are initially issued for a relatively short period - up to a year. At the same time, in order to extend the residence permit, the applicant must, upon arrival in the country, submit a request-application to the Ministry of Internal Affairs at the place of residence.
The main thing is to indicate the reason for the extension and attach to the application the appropriate documentary evidence of the need for this procedure, for example, a training agreement or an employment contract. It is also important to have documents on the availability of a place of residence and financial security.
Feedback from people who have received a visa to Israel on the procedure for obtaining
Kyran, 54 years old:“We have long wanted to fly with my family to Israel, to have a rest in Eilat. We called the consulate, they said that it is easier to get a visa through an accredited travel agency. It turned out that they overpaid a little, but did not have to worry about the children - we found a hotel with excellent animation. Everyone liked it. "
Maksim. 25 years:“The first trip to Israel turned into an adventure. We arrived in Tel Aviv by a company and got stuck at the customs. We flew on a visa-free basis, but one of the company (and we had 7 people) had a “ending” foreigner. They waited for him for a long time, as it turned out later - he received a suggestion from the customs officer. They threatened that if something happened they could turn back, but this time, since the hotel and ticket reservations were for the group, they let go in peace. "
The Israeli state is very sensitive about its security. Both consular offices, when checking the submitted information, and border control during inspection, will approach the procedure extremely seriously and responsibly. If the applicant is ready for this and treats the collection of documents and the submission of the necessary data with due attention, then there will be no special difficulties, and the cherished permission to enter the "land of Zion" will be obtained.
